GULFPORT — U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is expected to visit the Port of Gulfport next Tuesday. Executive director Don Allee tells The Sun Herald LaHood’s office contacted the port, saying he would be in the region and asking if a visit could be arranged. He will have about an hour for the visit. […] [...]

JACKSON — The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is inviting state business leaders interested in pursuing trade opportunities in the Canadian market or seeking representation, partners or distributorships in Canada to participate in a multi-sector business-to-business matchmaking mission to Toronto and Montreal Sept. 10-14. In a separate item, MDA is also leading a trade mission to […] [...]

JACKSON — The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is inviting state business leaders to participate in a building/construction/home improvement exhibition from Sept. 6-8 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The event will connect Mississippi businesses looking to expand trade and create business relationships with opportunities in the Latin American market. The Construction and Home Improvement Expo, which is held […] [...]

BILOXI — The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) has released a statement regarding reports that two U.S. companies have been packaging and selling shrimp as domestic-raised when the shrimp were actually imported. The ASPA said news media recently reported several plea agreements regarding alleged Lacey Act violations involving an Illinois wholesale company and a Louisiana […] [...]

GULF OF MEXICO — A federal agency says seaports in the Southeast region need the most help getting ready to trade with supersized cargo ships expected to arrive soon through an expanded Panama Canal. A report to Congress released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says ports on the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts […] [...]

JACKSON — The Food and Drug Administration recently warned Vietnam about a rise in banned substances found in seafood imported into the U.S., according to The Catfish Institute. The Institute reports the warning comes on the heels of significant increases in FDA import refusals of Vietnamese seafood shipments, which jumped from 12 refusals in March […] [...]

JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant will lead a trade delegation to Japan and Korea in September. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports Bryant announced the trade mission during a speech at a meeting of the Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association in Oxford. Bryant says he hopes several Mississippi business executives can go on the trip. Bryant […] [...]

NEW ORLEANS — South Korea’s ambassador to the United States will meet with Mississippi and Louisiana business people later this month in New Orleans. Han Duck-soo is the ambassador. He’s also a former prime minister and current chairman of the Korea-U.S. Economic Council Inc., which promotes economic ties between the two countries. The council is […] [...]

AROUND MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) has placed off sale several packages of frozen Korean oysters, because the product was from an unapproved source and considered to be adulterated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). MDAC’s consumer protection inspectors found the product this morning at small, Asian retail […] [...]

GULFPORT ­ — Legislation that removes the Port of Gulfport and its $570 million post-Hurricane Katrina expansion and renovation from state government oversight has been signed by the governor. House Bill 1091 took effect with Gov. Phil Bryant’s signature this past week. The bill exempts the Port of Gulfport from state-agency bidding and purchasing oversight […] [...]